Black House

By: Stephen King, Peter Straub

Narrated by: Frank Muller

Length: 26 hrs and 27 mins

Publisher's summary

Twenty years ago, a boy named Jack Sawyer traveled to a parallel universe called the Territories to save his mother and her “Twinner” from an agonizing death that would have brought cataclysm to the other world. Now Jack is a retired Los Angeles homicide detective living in the nearly nonexistent hamlet of Tamarack, Wisconsin. He has no recollection of his adventures in the Territories, and he was compelled to leave the police force when a happenstance event threatened to awaken those long suppressed and dangerous memories.

When a series of gruesome murders occur in western Wisconsin that are reminiscent of those committed several decades earlier, Jack’s buddy, the local chief of police, begs Jack to help find the killer. But are these new killings merely the work of a disturbed individual, or has a mysterious and malignant force been unleashed in this quiet town? What causes Jack’s inexplicable waking dreams - if that is what they are - of robins’ eggs and red feathers? As these cryptic messages becomes impossible to ignore, Jack is drawn back to the Territories and to his own hidden past.

©2001 Stephen King and Peter Straub. All rights reserved. (P)2012 Simon & Schuster Inc. All rights reserved.

Critic reviews

“Intelligent…Suspenseful” ( Wall Street Journal)

“Overflows with dark wit…” ( New York Times Book Review)

“Two master craftsmen, each at the top of his game” ( Washington Post)

Delightful detective story with a magical twist!

Would you consider the audio edition of Black House to be better than the print version?

I am an audio listener by trade.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Jack of course, he is the main man, super talented and powerful in ways that surprise the reader.

Have you listened to any of Frank Muller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Frank Muller was spectacular in the Talisman and he brings the same energy here. His performance of the new characters such as the "Fisherman" and "Mr. Munshun" in a sort of a Red Skelton mumbling jumble made me laugh out loud.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

There are several funny parts that made me laugh especially when the Biker gang (Thunder Five) dudes made sharp cracks. Yes I did get misty there was a tremendous friendship between Jack Sawyer and Henry Leyden and some real sadness surrounding the murders of the children.

Any additional comments?

There was a very large character set here, but as most "constant readers" know it is handled with extreme expertise. The thing about this book that grabbed me the most was that it quickly became a fascinating murder-mystery novel. There was a the reluctant Jack Sawyer that had purportedly been a "superstar detective" but retired from the LAPD at the young age of 31. So for about 1/4 of the book the reader has no idea just how good he really is at it. Now throw in the element of the supernatural where King and Straub really get cranked up. And of course we know from the Talisman that Jack Sawyer has a little bit of experience in this area. This one will make you want to listen till the end!

Welcome back Jack

I enjoyed every moment of this story. Frank Muller did an excellent job. I am hoping to meet Jack and Speedy again

Laurels Didn't Come Thru!

King, as in others of his books, has resurrected former story lines that reinserting them in The Black House become tiring and unimaginative. The beginnings are intriguing and grab your attention but then he picks up a scent from the past and there he goes off and running, ho-hum. This was one of those - Been there, done that.

Thank you.

I remembered the last words of The Talisman as I listened to this story. It was lovely to hear of Jack's adult life. This story was pretty much as good as The Talisman. It's hard to follow that act but, this book held up well.

So good!

Jack Sawyer is as great a character as anyone in the DT series. A must read if you're a gunslinger fan.
As always the late amazing Frank Muller performs magically. Starts a little slow (the talisman was similar for me) but stick with it and you will not be disappointed.

This was the King novel that gave me nightmares

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

For some reason I enjoy King's work, but never got the hebie jeebies from them. I guess it took a cannibal who preys on young children to really spook me out. It has everything you would want from the king's franchise and so much more.

What did you like best about this story?

I liked how he gave you the option of closing the book almost at the end and taking a picture perfect ending or really socking it to you.

Have you listened to any of Frank Muller’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

The dark tower was taken to a whole different level with muller . He just knows when to stretch out words and make certain things extra creepy when they need to be. This book is classic muller, no questions about it.

Grusome serial killer detective action fantasy

The continuity in this novel is fantastic for die hard Tower and Talisman fans. Explore a different side of the battle against the Abbalah Dun, The Crimson King. Jack Sawyer is a hero to rival Roland, and his weapons are possibly more interesting. This book is excellently narrated, and from page one, the reader is literally carried on a journey through this story. A bit of a unique POV, and the pay off for this alone makes this worth the time. Definitely not for the feint of heart. Possibly some of King's most gruesome scenes, which is saying a lot. A third installment of the Jack Sawyer adventures would certainly be a welcome addition to the Tower-verse. Sign me up every time.

Great Story

It's filled with evil monsters and a sparkle of good that fights to overcome the spread of terror, pain, and horror that lies in the deep shadows of darkness.

Welcome back Jack

Jack Sawyer has returned all grown up. Black House is a wonderful way to catch up.

"Black House" is a must read for anyone who loved "The Dark Tower Series"!

I enjoyed and really liked "The Talisman", but I loved "Black House"! To me this is one of those rare times that the sequel in my opinion is so much richer and well thought out then it's predecessor.

I've been reading (listening) to the entire Stephen King library exclusively for over a year. I'm almost done with this project and unfortunately this was the last book of Frank Muller doing the narration. He was an absolute master. Able to bend and move his voice to the extreme or in with tiny tweak of dialect so that you knew it was someone else entirely. He really put you into the story from the moment he began to speak. What a strange and wonderful talent, to realize one day that you have the ability to make stories come to life.
He will be dearly missed.

After my project is complete I will be seeking out the works of Peter Straub and other books by other writers read by Frank Muller.